You go everywhere together
You and your hearing aid are best pals. You go everywhere together–you get lunch together, you go to the movies, you take walks around the park. But how long can you really expect that to last? Will you and your hearing aid be BFFs for life, or will you need to part ways at some point?
As with any relationship, there might be some ups and downs along the way. When it comes to the blossoming partnership between you and your hearing aid, there are several variables that can influence how long the good times might last.
The average hearing aid lifespan
It is possible to speak in general terms about how long you might expect your hearing aid to last (we’ve got to give you some numbers, right?!). The average lifespan of a typical hearing aid is going to be anywhere from 3 to 5 years. But that’s not a hard and fast rule, and you need to have your hearing checked periodically to make sure your hearing aid is still the best option for you. Assuming your hearing doesn’t change, some models age more quickly than others and technology is constantly changing.
Variables that might impact your hearing aid longevity
Because that’s just the average, right? Which means there are plenty of people who might see their hearing aids last much longer. Here are a number of factors that will determine how long your hearing aid might last:
- How often you use your hearing aid: To a certain extent, the more often you use your hearing aid, the sooner you’ll need a new one. (But that’s not always the case–modern hearing aids are intended to be used for long durations.) Maybe a better way to say it is that the more often you cycle power settings (turn the device on and off), the sooner you might have to replace your hearing aid.
- Build quality: Hearing aids are expensive. But, as with most things in life, you usually get what you pay for. The better the build quality of your hearing aid, the longer it’s likely to last.
- Complexity of the hearing aid: The more complex your hearing aid is, the more variables you have to contend with (meaning there’s more that can go wrong). Don’t get me wrong–sometimes you need that added complexity, and often it ends up being worth it. But added complex technology does introduce a “breakability” factor. Modern hearing aids have gotten quite clever about introducing more functionality via software rather than hardware, which does help.
- Regular care and maintenance: In many ways, a hearing aid is like any other piece of technology (or a BFF): the better you take care of it, the longer it’ll last. That’s why you should always clean your hearing aids and perform regular maintenance as per the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Changes to your hearing: If you’re an adult and you have a hearing aid, you’ve probably gone with one of those very tiny, easy to hide devices. Those devices tend to be very precisely calibrated–they have exactly the amount of power you need. So if your hearing gets worse (not ideal, obviously, but it does happen), you might need to switch to a more powerful set of hearing aids.
Can you make your hearing aids last longer?
We have to acknowledge that hearing aids are pretty personal things. They are programmed specifically for your ears and may have custom molds. They are also a significant investment. So getting the most bang for your buck–getting your hearing aid to last as long as possible–is a common goal.
And it’s one you can achieve. Really, the best thing you can do to make sure your hearing aids last as long as possible is to take care of them. Try not to drop them or get them wet. And make sure you do all the required maintenance and cleaning (seriously–no one likes cleaning, but it’s like a chore–you’ve got to do it).
You’ll usually be able to get a good three to five years out of a hearing aid. Whether you can get more than that is, often, up to chance. Taking care of it will help.